1,554 research outputs found

    XML content warehousing: Improving sociological studies of mailing lists and web data

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    In this paper, we present the guidelines for an XML-based approach for the sociological study of Web data such as the analysis of mailing lists or databases available online. The use of an XML warehouse is a flexible solution for storing and processing this kind of data. We propose an implemented solution and show possible applications with our case study of profiles of experts involved in W3C standard-setting activity. We illustrate the sociological use of semi-structured databases by presenting our XML Schema for mailing-list warehousing. An XML Schema allows many adjunctions or crossings of data sources, without modifying existing data sets, while allowing possible structural evolution. We also show that the existence of hidden data implies increased complexity for traditional SQL users. XML content warehousing allows altogether exhaustive warehousing and recursive queries through contents, with far less dependence on the initial storage. We finally present the possibility of exporting the data stored in the warehouse to commonly-used advanced software devoted to sociological analysis

    The Montreal Declaration on Free Access to Law (MDFAL) of 2002: A Weak Reed for Global Realization of the Right to Access Legal Information

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    The beginning of 2000 witnessed emergence of global campaigns for realization of the right to access legal information. The campaigns were initiated by activists of the Free Access to Law Movements (FALM). In order to make the campaigns more formal the FALM drafted the Montreal Declaration on Free Access to Law (MDFAL) of 2002. Although the principles of the MDFAL of 2002 are good it suffers from a sort of ‘birth defect’ problems, one of which being the fact that the MDFAL of 2002 is not in the realm of international law. One can only assume that if the MDFAL of 2002 was in the realm of international law, realization of its principles would be more realistic than it is now. The aim of this article is to provide a critique of the MDFAL of 2002 which makes realization of the right to access legal information illusive. Keywords: Free Access to Legal Information, Legal information, Legal information  institutes, Montreal Declaration on Free Access to Law DOI: 10.7176/JLPG/105-09 Publication date: January 31st 202

    Scientific names of organisms : attribution, rights, and licensing

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    © The Author(s), 2014. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in BMC Research Notes 7 (2014): 79, doi:10.1186/1756-0500-7-79.As biological disciplines extend into the ‘big data’ world, they will need a names-based infrastructure to index and interconnect distributed data. The infrastructure must have access to all names of all organisms if it is to manage all information. Those who compile lists of species hold different views as to the intellectual property rights that apply to the lists. This creates uncertainty that impedes the development of a much-needed infrastructure for sharing biological data in the digital world. The laws in the United States of America and European Union are consistent with the position that scientific names of organisms and their compilation in checklists, classifications or taxonomic revisions are not subject to copyright. Compilations of names, such as classifications or checklists, are not creative in the sense of copyright law. Many content providers desire credit for their efforts. A ‘blue list’ identifies elements of checklists, classifications and monographs to which intellectual property rights do not apply. To promote sharing, authors of taxonomic content, compilers, intermediaries, and aggregators should receive citable recognition for their contributions, with the greatest recognition being given to the originating authors. Mechanisms for achieving this are discussed

    Computer Programming Aptitude Test as a Tool for Reducing Student Attrition

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    The stable trend to lose from one-third to half of students in the first study year of computing studies motivated us to explore, which methods are used to determine in advance such applicants, who have no change to overcome the first study year. Initially, a research about the factors influencing the attrition in Faculty of Computing at the University of Latvia was conducted. The research revealed that the trend of non-beginning studies might indicate the wrong choice of the study field and possible lack of understanding of what is programming by enrolled students (applicants as well as pupils).The study provides the review of the situation with programming aptitude tests in the world, which could serve as one of the solutions to the dropout reduction. An action plan is proposed, which is based on the exploration of students and evaluation of activities already conducted at the Faculty of Computing of the University of Latvia to reduce dropout (School of Young Programmers, Compensative Course in High School Mathematics, Mentoring programs). Moreover, the supplementation of these activities by one of the existing programming attitude tests (or a combination of several tests) or a necessity to develop a new similar test is considered

    Scientific names of organisms: attribution, rights, and licensing

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    abstract: Background As biological disciplines extend into the ‘big data’ world, they will need a names-based infrastructure to index and interconnect distributed data. The infrastructure must have access to all names of all organisms if it is to manage all information. Those who compile lists of species hold different views as to the intellectual property rights that apply to the lists. This creates uncertainty that impedes the development of a much-needed infrastructure for sharing biological data in the digital world. Findings The laws in the United States of America and European Union are consistent with the position that scientific names of organisms and their compilation in checklists, classifications or taxonomic revisions are not subject to copyright. Compilations of names, such as classifications or checklists, are not creative in the sense of copyright law. Many content providers desire credit for their efforts. Conclusions A ‘blue list’ identifies elements of checklists, classifications and monographs to which intellectual property rights do not apply. To promote sharing, authors of taxonomic content, compilers, intermediaries, and aggregators should receive citable recognition for their contributions, with the greatest recognition being given to the originating authors. Mechanisms for achieving this are discussed.The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://bmcresnotes.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1756-0500-7-7

    An agent-based approach to consumer´s law dispute resolution

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    Buying products online results in a new type of trade which the traditional legal systems are not ready to deal with. Besides that, the increase in B2C relations led to a growing number of consumer claims and many of these are not getting a satisfactory response. New approaches that do not include traditional litigation are needed, having in consideration not only the slowness of the judicial system, but also the cost/beneficial relation in legal procedures. This paper points out to an alternative way of solving these conflicts online, using Information Technologies and Artificial Intelligence methodologies. The work here presented results in a consumer advice system, which fastens and makes easier the conflict resolution process both for consumers and for legal experts.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - TIARAC - Telematics and Artificial Intelligence in Alternative Conflict Resolution Project (PTDC/JUR/71354/2006
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